Development models must never be one-dimensional

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–Renmin University Director says, highlights China’s progressive strategies

FROM the way one travels to work to accessing electricity, infrastructure plays a critical role in every aspect of human life and the Director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, Professor Wang Yiwei, has emphasised that for any country to transform, it must have a development plan that is not one-dimensional. The public policies being implemented by the Government of Guyana are in line with this and as such, there has been a tremendous amount of investment in the infrastructure sector to bring forth economic and social prosperity.

Although many critics of the Guyanese government have called for direct cash transfers instead of the development of infrastructure, it has been seen, globally, that a lack of investment within this sector has hindered the growth of many countries. However, China has shown over the years that infrastructure is the backbone of every economy and it has the power to shape society and the country stands as a prime example of why it is important to prioritise a state’s resources.

Dr Yiwei explained how the nation’s initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) underpin its national economic goals and said that modernisation must be parallel and not sequential, meaning, industrialisation, urbanisation and agricultural modernisation must be developed simultaneously. The Professor also referenced the report to the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, which highlighted that based on decades of exploration and practice since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, especially since the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, as well as the breakthroughs made in theory and practice since the 18th National Congress, “China has succeeded in advancing and expanding Chinese modernisation.”

In this regard, he shifted his attention to the comments made at a symposium discussing China’s work in philosophy and social sciences on May 17, 2016, where General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The great social transformations that contemporary China has undergone are not a natural continuation of our country’s historical and cultural traditions, not a mechanical application of the templates designed by authors of Marxist classics, nor a copy of the socialist practice in other countries or foreign models of modernisation.”

Modernisation for all The Jean Monnet Chair professor said that as it relates to foreign relations, China remains firmly committed to pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and is dedicated to promoting a human community with a shared future. He supported his point by referencing remarks made by the Chinese President during his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation. The Chinese President had said: “China is endeavouring to build itself into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernisation. The modernisation we are pursuing is not for China alone, but for all developing countries through our joint efforts. Global modernisation should be pursued to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial co-operation and bring prosperity to all. “China will work with all parties involved to deepen Belt and Road partnerships of co-operation, usher this co-operation into a new stage of high-quality development, and make relentless efforts to achieve modernisation for all countries.”

Adding to this, Dr Yiwei said that countries in Latin and South America, Asia and Africa must not blindly follow the West but instead advance development through their own national lens. The Professor also explained two stages of modernisation. The first stage of modernisation, according to him, is characterised by industrialisation and urbanisation. There are ten indicators, that is, Gross National Product (GNP) per capita, the share of value added in agriculture, the share of value added in services, the ratio of agricultural workforce, the ratio of urban population, medical services, infant survival rate, expected life expectancy, adult literacy rate, and college enrollment rate. The second stage of modernisation is characterised by knowledge and informatisation. Informatisation refers to the extent by which a geographical area, an economy or a society is becoming information-based, i.e. the increase in size of its information labour force.

There are 16 specific indicators under four categories, that is, knowledge innovation, knowledge dissemination, life quality, and economic quality, as well as four signal metrics: share of value added in industry, value added in material sectors, the ratio of industrial workforce, and ratio of workforce in material sectors. In keeping with the goal of common prosperity for all, Dr Yiwei touched on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which stands as an economic corridor that will foster connectivity and integration.

With that said, he continued to highlight how important it is to develop infrastructure and emphasised that BRI is a means of fostering development together. It was also pointed out that China’s trade with BRI topped one trillion USD in 2013, after a decade of 19 per cent average growth, and it is still growing. Notably, since China and Guyana signed the MoU on the BRI in 2018, progress has been made in the co-operation. Infrastructure projects including the East Coast Demerara Road, the expansion of Cheddi Jagan International Airport, and the National Broadband Network etc., have promoted the connectivity of Guyana.

The China-Guyana trade volume has increased from 265 million USD in 2018 to 1.88 billion USD in 2022, expanded by 6.1 times in four years. It’s worth noting that for the first time, Guyana enjoyed a trade surplus of 820 million USD against China in 2022, which is expected to continuously increase. The BRI was proposed by President Jinping and is inspired by the ancient Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road.

But how does infrastructure support development? The Guyanese Government has consistently highlighted that infrastructure cannot be viewed as just individual assets but instead as a holistic system that can deliver economic, environment and social empowerment to all. As such, Guyana’s Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has outlined government policies that will result in long-term development for all citizens. The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has undertaken several infrastructural developments, such as upgrading and building roads, working to provide cheaper and reliable electricity, and enhancing the health sector, which is essential for rapid economic growth.

With Guyana undergoing a construction “boom,” this has increased local demand within other sectors such as the creation of more employment. This has resulted in 60,000 more Guyanese employed, a major achievement for the current PPP/C government considering there were significant job losses under the previous A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition administration.

Dr Jagdeo, during a recent press conference, had noted that the government’s part-time jobs initiative has been instrumental in generating income for many Guyanese, particularly in rural and hinterland regions. More than 15,000 citizens have benefitted from this programme in 2023 alone. Critical investments in hinterland communities have also played a crucial role in job creation. Throughout the last four years, some 6,000 job opportunities have been created in these regions, driven by initiatives such as the revitalised Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP) and the employment of nearly 2,700 Community Service Officers (CSOs). Furthermore, another 3,000 individuals have found income opportunities through the part-time jobs programme.

The government has also awarded numerous contracts to small contractors in the hinterland, focusing on infrastructure projects that have further boosted employment prospects in those areas. The creation of over 50,000 jobs nationwide in the past four years marks a significant milestone for the current administration, fulfilling and even exceeding its 2020-2025 Manifesto promise of creating 50,000 new jobs by the end of its first term.

Further, the construction of roads nationwide has served as a major catalyst in boosting connectivity, decreasing isolation and even increasing economic activities in other sectors. The seventy-four contracts totalling $1.3 billion which were awarded for road construction across several communities in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) last week, serves as a testament of the government’s manifesto promise of “building for the future.” Among communities in which the contracts will be executed are La Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneeming, Westminster, Recht Door Zee, and Lust-en-Rust.

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Development models must never be one-dimensional

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